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Title: The Black Bird

Author: R. L. McCallum

Narrator: Brad Wills

Format: Unabridged

Length: 2 hrs and 42 mins

Language: English

Release date: 10-12-12

Publisher: Carl Leon Catt

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 7 votes

Genres: Fiction, Horror

Publisher's Summary:

England 1888

After forfeiting his wife to the company of other men, Sir James Addison, a notable English poet and gentleman, begins descending into a demented melancholy that prompts him to move from his elaborate estate in Oxfordshire to the London's seedy borough of Soho. Soon after his arrival in Soho, Sir James begins yielding to the intoxicating effects of laudanum and to the whims of his madness, just as his memory begins lapsing and Jack the Ripper begins his campaign of terror.

Plagued by the persistent presence of an inordinately large raven, and hellish nightmares of his forthcoming death, Sir James and his friend, Cornelius Ingram, take leave of London and travel to North Yorkshire and to a time-trodden and once regal residence known as 'Windham House' where the raven follows and the spectre of death is waiting.

Members Reviews:

A Stylish Victorian Novella

Being mired in my chunky and long novels, I have nearly forgotten the pleasures of reading a novella, especially a novella so masterfully written. This novel was again my foray into the world of indie and self-published authors, and overall, I am happy with my choice. The accomplishments of this period piece are complemented by the narrator, Brad Wills, who creates a truly authentic performance - his voice and his inflections sound natural and poised. This voice did a lot to help me visualize the setting of this novelette.

The novella is a stylish compilation of recognizable moves in the horror genre and allusions to the very foundations of this genre. It is also a deftly written Victorian period piece with the language imitating the famous early ghost stories. The imitation goes beyond the level of wording and vocabulary, but rather successfully attempts to follow the syntax and even ideas and values of this epoch. Some fans of the splatterpunk might consider this a softie, a sub par performance, BUT I FOR ONE really enjoyed its deftly linguistic fabric of the text.

The author also masterfully used recognizable allusions (allusions to Poe, the crimes committed by Jack the Ripper, and definitely the image of the raven). Ravens conventionally are used to create the unpleasant murky feeling of something sinister but hardly tangible. This raven gains even more power and turns not only into the harbinger of disaster but also the extension of something immeasurably darker.

Allusions to Jack the Ripper are key if you want to create this dark, Gothic world of Victorian England. The ever-used mystery of the serial killer is also given a new supernatural explanation in this novella. The Gothic setting of the novel is another commendable point. The aura of an old, ramshackle, dilapidated, haunting place perfectly recreates the chilling atmosphere of theWuthering Heights.

The most important thing is that the horror, experienced by Mr. James, the protagonist, and a famous poet, could have a logical explanation of him being addicted to the laudanum with the subsequent hallucinations and gradual descent into madness. It could be explained, but who would settle for the banal explanation of hallucinations caused by this drug.

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Title: Grave Intentions

Author: Ty Schwamberger

Narrator: Randy Capes

Format: Unabridged

Length: 2 hrs and 45 mins

Language: English

Release date: 10-10-12

Publisher: Ty Schwamberger

Ratings: 3 of 5 out of 9 votes

Genres: Fiction, Horror

Publisher's Summary:

Rodney's life started to spiral out of control after the untimely death of his beloved wife. He ended up on the rough streets: fighting for his sanity, his next fix, and his next meal. But it was his hunger for getting high and trying to forget his former life that was the hardest for him to control. Or at least he thought. Then came the night when he and another junkie walked into Parkside Cemetery, dug up the dead body of Becky Smithshire and...bit into her cold body.

That's when Rodney's life really changed.

Derrick, Craig, Joan, and Stacy were the best of friends, if not a little more at times. Late one night before their impending first days of college, they decided to have a liquid-picnic in their local cemetery. It was supposed to be a night of laughs, booze, and sex. Until Derrick came running back to his three friends, scared half to death. He started babbling about seeing something that looked like a werewolf.

Now the three friends must escape from the cemetery before the werewolf finds them and chomps them into little pieces.

Will all four friends survive? Or will the bloodline of the werewolf win the night?

Only the deepest bonds of friendship and something even greater holds the answer.

Members Reviews:

Sick ... but in a good way.

I've never been the kind of guy who enjoyed hanging out in graveyards. If I'm stepping out for the night, I want to go someplace a little more--wait for it--livelier. Oh, I'm terrible.

In Grave Intentions, Derrick and Craig are the best of friends. And before they head out to college, they grab some booze and a couple gals for a final night of celebrating. The meeting place of choice? The local cemetery, of course. If you think about it, it's a good choice if you're more interested in having privacy and less interested in not being surrounded by corpses. But the horny foursome aren't alone. A couple of drunk derelicts are wandering the graveyard, too. And one of them is about to unleash his inner beast after gaining a taste for human flesh.

Oh man, this novella is sick--but in a good way.

Nothing good happens in graveyards, and Grave Intentions works hard to prove that with a raw, pulpy story of revenge, regret, and really hungry monsters. Randy Capes' narration goes a long way to present distinct characters and ratchet up the tension and terror with each scene. Where I found the story lacking was in some of the dialogue. Specifically between Derrick and Craig, whose relationship felt genuine amidst the insanity, but their motivations felt uneven at times, and the provocation into a showdown with the big, bad wolf nipping at their heels seemed to run against what I would consider a desire to keep breathing in and out.

I will say this about Ty Schwamberger's brand of horror: the man does not hold back. For a guy who counts Richard Laymon among his favorite authors, Ty Schwamberger knows how to tap into his inner Laymon.

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Title: Second Soul

Author: Thomas Sullivan

Narrator: Nick Sullivan

Format: Unabridged

Length: 9 hrs and 11 mins

Language: English

Release date: 10-10-12

Publisher: Crossroad Press

Ratings: 3 of 5 out of 1 votes

Genres: Fiction, Horror

Publisher's Summary:

Whatever was, is, and shall be is my enemy. If it has cells, if it needs light or air or water, it loses control when I'm near. I am profoundly wrong for this world. I will never be able to hide in a crowd....

Michael Carmichael was a normal man - until the careening downward plunge of his life culminated in a near-fatal skiing accident. He should have died in the icy waterfall where he crashed, but he became the exception to the rule no being was ever meant to break.

Now Michael is not quite a man, nor is he alive or dead. His image in the mirror is inexplicably, but undeniably, different. The voices of others echo in his head. And as his inward metamorphosis brings the wrath of the natural world upon him, he must venture back to the waterfall to reclaim his soul from those who plan a crueler fate for him....

Members Reviews:

Quite a ride!

I have to admit - this was a hard book to get through. Sullivan doesn't tell a story and allow the reader to be a spectator, but rather, creates a world in which it is nearly impossible to remain on the outside. Pure exhaustion accompanies the pure fascination. If I say anything else, it stands the chance of being a spoiler, as discovery is the fascination and the actual experience is the exhaustion. It is a ride, indeed.

Thomas Sullivan just keeps getting better and better

I've been reading Thomas Sullivan's novels in the order they were published, and just finished SECOND SOUL yesterday. The man just keeps getting better and better with each new book - this is novel number six - THE WATER WOLF is number seven and I'm chomping at the bit to get to that one now.

SECOND SOUL is one of those rare books that I feel like pulling out a highlighter to mark up all the great passages that I'll want to return to again and again. Fact is, I have a book fetish that prevents me defacing them that way, but there's just so much outstandingly fine writing there that I wish it weren't so. Not that it will be hard to find the good parts in the future -- there are so many "good parts" that I'll just reread the whole thing, and it will be time well spent.

What a great concept for a story, and such masterful execution to bring that story to the page. "Sully" is such a wizard of the language - those big-name best-selling giants of the genre got nothing on him, talent-wise. My fervent wish is that he keeps at it, and writes his stories, going wherever his muse takes him, ignoring genre boundaries and just writing what needs to be written. I'll follow him anywhere -- mainstream, genre, I don't care. It's how he tells the story, it's not about the theme or plot. He tells stories like Fabergé made eggs - exquisitely crafted, each one unique and beautiful and of the finest kind, and I'm eternally grateful to him for sharing.

snooze fest!

I am a huge fan of horror and couldn't wait to dive into this book. The first couple of chapters were great and I was hooked, but the story just didn't go anywhere.

Michael Carmichael falls into freezing water and while he is dying, he watches a bus full of people crash and burn alive. Michael comes back to tell the tale, but he doesn't come back alone. There are 19 souls that want to use his body to come back in.

The story spends way too much time with narrative that is descriptive to the point of being boring and doesn't advance the storyline at all.

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Title: Incursion

Subtitle: The O.C.L.T. Series, Book 4

Author: Aaron Rosenberg

Narrator: Fred Kennedy

Format: Unabridged

Length: 7 hrs and 24 mins

Language: English

Release date: 10-05-12

Publisher: Crossroad Press

Ratings: 3.5 of 5 out of 2 votes

Genres: Fiction, Horror

Publisher's Summary:

There are incidents and emergencies in the world that defy logical explanation, events that could be defined as supernatural, extraterrestrial, or simply otherworldly. Standard laws do not allow for such instances, nor are most officials or authorities trained to handle them. In recognition of these facts, an organization has been created that can. Assembled by a loose international coalition, their mission is to deal with these situations using diplomacy, guile, force, and strategy as necessary. They shield the rest of the world from their own actions, and clean up the messes left in their wake. They are our protection, our guide, our sword, and our voice, all rolled into one.

They are O.C.L.T.

R.C. Hayes has settled into his job with the FBI, and put behind him the strange incident that ended his military career. But when he and his partner are sent to the Flathead Indian Reservation in Montana to look into a murder, events take an unsettling and eerily familiar turn. R.C. struggles to solve the case as deaths pile up around him and as the situation takes a decidedly unnatural cast. With the help of a mysterious new ally, he may finally come to terms with what happened to him long ago - and enter a strange new career he is uniquely suited for. Provided he can survive the incursion of supernatural elements into his supposedly safe and mundane world.

This is the second full-length novel in the O.C.L.T. series. It joins the novellas Brought to Light by Aaron Rosenberg and The Temple of Camazotz by David Niall Wilson, and the novel The Parting, also by David Niall Wilson, in setting the stage for further adventures. Each of these works introduces another facet of the O.C.L.T. team; Incursion draws the loose ends together, establishes a base, and determines leadership for the fledgling agency.

Members Reviews:

Outstanding Fantasy

I read this about 4 months ago but as I had forgotten much of it, but had enjoyed it, I decided to read it again. At just over 200 pages, this is a short fantasy yet that adds to the enjoyment as the author didn't have to add useless sub-plots.

While he was a Military Intelligence Officer, R. C. and his squad were investigating a series of murders with a supernatural aspect when everyone except R. C. was killed. His report was changed leaving out the supernatural aspect and he was regarded as being mentally affected.

He left the MI and joined the FBI. He and his partner were assigned to investigate a series of murders on an Indian Reservation. The case quickly developed a mythical connection that couldn't be reported as no one would believe it. From there the excitement builds. The book was even better the second time.

I have become hooked on the premise of these novels ...

I have become hooked on the premise of these novels and look forward to following the lives and exploits of the characters.I don't know if the stories are drawn from existing legends or conjured up by the authors. If it's the former then there would seem to be countless story lines.

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Title: Transporter of Souls

Author: Tammy Vreeland

Narrator: Tammy Vreeland

Format: Unabridged

Length: 10 hrs and 12 mins

Language: English

Release date: 10-05-12

Publisher: Tammy Vreeland

Ratings: 3 of 5 out of 5 votes

Genres: Fiction, Horror

Publisher's Summary:

Evan's boss John realizes that Evan has become burned out with police towing. The death and destruction that Evan sees on a daily basis has finally taken its toll. Not wanting to lose Evan, John proposes for Evan to start his own business in towing salvage cars. John assures Evan that he can provide him with enough contacts to start the business up. And strangely enough, the money becomes available to Evan with the unexpected passing of his grandmother.

Now with a new business and a new love interest Evan begins his new life. But soon Evan quickly realizes that the horrors he has encountered at the scene of accidents may not be the end of life as he thought. That maybe souls are still trapped in the ruins of cars they perished in. A curse that began with the very first known automobile accident. A curse that continues to this day. And as with most curses, man has figured a way not to remove it but to profit from it.

Members Reviews:

Something Different

If you could sum up Transporter of Souls in three words, what would they be?

A cool concept

Did the plot keep you on the edge of your seat? How?

It did...it certainly makes me think about buying used cars!

Which character as performed by Tammy Vreeland was your favorite?

Her reading is very simple...none of the characters stand out due to her narration but in the story I liked Evan.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

What Jaws did to water Transporter of Souls does to used cars...

Any additional comments?

It was a good story!

Poor

What disappointed you about Transporter of Souls?

Although the premise was good, the writing was adolescent and redundant. The reading is extremely unprofessional. Obviously this author is comfortable with herself. Maybe she should hire a new editor?

Would you ever listen to anything by Tammy Vreeland again?

No

How did the narrator detract from the book?

As much as possible. I also bought this for my kindle and the writing is just as godawful as the narration.

Sleeper

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

Well if you are looking for a book to put you to sleep this is the one that will do it

Has Transporter of Souls turned you off from other books in this genre?

I would still try other books but would try them frist

What three words best describe Tammy Vreelands performance?

She was doing her best I liked her voice just not the story

Was Transporter of Souls worth the listening time?

No I do not think so

Any additional comments?

My self I did not like it by the time time the middle of the book I had figured out how it was going to go down and end

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Title: Gila!

Author: Kathryn Ptacek

Narrator: Lou Hecker

Format: Unabridged

Length: 4 hrs and 33 mins

Language: English

Release date: 10-04-12

Publisher: Crossroad Press

Ratings: 3 of 5 out of 7 votes

Genres: Fiction, Horror

Publisher's Summary:

Harkening back to the days of giant creature movies of the 1950s, a horde of giant Gila Monsters is on the loose in New Mexico, threatening every living creature in sight. Nothing and no one is safe from the ravenous creatures as they tear their way through the desert and into heavily populated areas. Can these atomically mutated creatures be stopped? Or is this the beginning of the end for mankind? It's up to Chato del-Klinne and Dr. Kate Dwyer to kick the hiss out of the oversized lizards!

From the mind of Kathryn Ptacek, writing under her Les Simons pen name, comes a tale of grisly horror with man being the hunted and Mother Nature being the hunter.

Members Reviews:

Giant Gila Monsters In New Mexico

Kathryn Ptacek's novel of giant lizards in New Mexico is tailor-made for those of us who consider ourselves sci-fi and monster fans. The monsters--mutant Gilas spawned by radiation--are certainly malevolent enough, and the numerous attack scenes as they embark on a rampage which begins in a small desert town and methodically moves toward bigger cities are well-described in all their gory glory. Ptacek knows the genre and what its fans want, and if her book offers nothing especially innovative, it doesn't really need to since it follows a successful formula so well.

But while the book is a stylistic success with a good plot, it does suffer from a couple of unfortunate weaknesses. The main character and her boyfriend are an extremely unlikeable pair. Arrogant, vain, narcissistic, and seemingly much more interested in making out over and again than in saving Nevada from being devoured by the eponymous monsters, neither one of them ever evokes much empathy from the reader. At times I was wondering if Ptacek actually made her protagonists unlikeable on purpose, but if so it was a bad idea. Ultimately, the two heroes prove to be a lot dumber than they think they are, too, which makes for an interesting but not altogether satisfying twist at the end.

Gila! is definitely a fun book thanks to the author's solid writing skills and a fun, exciting plot that could make a great movie. But it would have been even more enjoyable if the author had given us more sympathetic main characters and a better realized climax. Even so, I think most fans of classic giant monster tales will enjoy it.

Retro Monster Goodness

I've been a fan of Kathryn Ptacek's writing for years and was delighted to see the return one of my favorite, GILA! Giant monsters created by atomic fallout, death and destruction...and a wicked sense of fun. Yeah...count me in.

Gila Monster Mayhem

I'll make this review short and to the point; fans of these pulp horror books already know what to expect. Giant gila monsters invade New Mexico. All the while a herpetologist is on the case, all the while falling in love with an old colleague. There's also a subplot involving the governor trying to cover up the gila monsters' existence, until he concludes his involvement in their destruction could appeal to voters. How's the writing? Not bad. It isn't spectacular enough to make it stand out from other pulp novels, but it gets the job done. Are there numerous attacks? Yes, this book is full of gila monster mayhem. Sex? Yep. In summary, it's everything pulp horror fans should want and expect.

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Title: The Haunted Cave

Author: Drac Von Stoller

Narrator: Ted Brooks

Format: Unabridged

Length: 3 mins

Language: English

Release date: 09-26-12

Publisher: Drac Von Stoller

Ratings: 3 of 5 out of 1 votes

Genres: Fiction, Horror

Publisher's Summary:

During the late 1800's Tom Sanderson's farm was a great place for fishing. Tom was a very friendly man that liked to give tours in his cave to anyone that fished or hunted on his farm. But Tom's kindness would eventually do him in.

One day, like any other day, Tom approached two men that were drinking and fishing in his pond.

Tom asked the men, "Would you like to take a tour in my cave just over the hill?"

The two men knew Tom was loaded and heard that he kept his money in his overalls. The men said, "Sure we would love to take a tour of your cave."

Tom was about to become a legend in a deadly way.

Members Reviews:

Wanna go explore?'

A haunted cave & how dare we go in it when we hear the ghostly cries. Anyone up for exploring?

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Title: 10 Short Stories from '31 Horrifying Tales from the Dead'

Author: Drac Von Stoller

Narrator: Michael Adashefski

Format: Unabridged

Length: 2 hrs and 41 mins

Language: English

Release date: 09-26-12

Publisher: Drac Von Stoller

Ratings: 2 of 5 out of 1 votes

Genres: Fiction, Horror

Publisher's Summary:

Sit back, turn the lights down low, and get ready for the scare of your life with 10 Short Stories from 31 Horrifying Tales from the Dead by Drac Von Stoller. Immerse yourself in some of the most horrifying short stories ever told, including "Don't Mess with the Dead", "Don't Go in the Woods", "Death Island Lighthouse", "I Just Couldn't Leave Her in the Cold Dark Ground", "Cannibal Lake", "The Red Room", "Death of a Writer", "Army of the Dead", "Dead Man's Chest", and "The Shadowman".

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Title: The Red Room

Author: Drac Von Stoller

Narrator: Michael Adashefski

Format: Unabridged

Length: 26 mins

Language: English

Release date: 09-26-12

Publisher: Drac Von Stoller

Ratings: 2 of 5 out of 2 votes

Genres: Fiction, Horror

Publisher's Summary:

Darren and his family just got back from their vacation when Darren received a phone call from his aunt. Darren's uncle Henry was found dead in the wine cellar. Darren's aunt pleaded with him to take over the estate because her health and age could not handle the stress of taking care of such an enormous task. As soon as Darren arrived at the mansion and Darren opened the door to the red room their lives would never be the same.

Members Reviews:

Was that meant to scare me?

As I have said in previous reviews, I chose this story because I like creepy tales. This one didn't scare me either, but all the the same it was well written. I will say this - be careful what you involve yourself in. Sometimes it's not worth the end results.

Nope

Yuck

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Title: 6 Short Stories from '31 Horrifying Tales from the Dead'

Author: Drac Von Stoller

Narrator: Michael Adashefski

Format: Unabridged

Length: 1 hr and 47 mins

Language: English

Release date: 09-26-12

Publisher: Drac Von Stoller

Genres: Fiction, Horror

Publisher's Summary:

Sit back, turn the lights down low, and get ready for the scare of your life with 6 Short Stories from "31 Horrifying Tales from the Dead" by Drac Von Stoller. Immerse yourself in some of the most horrifying short stories ever told, including "Don't Mess With The Dead", "Don't Go in the Woods", "Death Island Lighthouse", "I Just Couldn't Leave Her in the Cold Dark Ground", "Cannibal Lake", and "The Red Room".